Digital Commons Network^™

Theory In Service Of Students: Feminist Pedagogy, Status Processes, And Rotating Leadership, Alison J. Bianchi

Feminist Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

From Awareness To Action: The Group Processes Course As Design Laboratory, Kimberly B. Rogers

Feminist Pedagogy

In this article, I describe several pedagogical tools used in my group processes course to help students understand how group processes contribute to inequality and how to effectively intervene on these processes. I pair experimental research with work in natural settings to help students trace the development of theories across levels of application and understand their usefulness outside the laboratory. I incorporate reading reflections and simulation exercises that encourage students to apply course material to their own group experiences and make abstract group processes and their consequences more visible for analysis and action. I use complex instruction to promote more …

Showing Students Their Power: Demonstrating How Status Is Afforded In Interactions, Christianne Corbett

Feminist Pedagogy

The Showing Students their Power original teaching activity conveys to students in a visceral, embodied – and therefore hopefully memorable - way the concept of status, how it is afforded by others, and how quickly and accurately individuals perceive the status with which others view them. Students are informed that characteristics like gender, race, class, sexual orientation are status characteristics and that people who are viewed as lower status tend to be treated less respectfully. By identifying the existence of status, how it is conveyed from person to person, and the power we all have to influence other people, students …

Interdisciplinary, Delphi-Driven Consensus Guidelines On The Use Of Intravenous Ketamine Infusions For Depressive Disorders From The American Society Of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists, And Practitioners (Askp3), David S Mathai, Madeleine Cluck, Amna M Aslam, Erin Amato, Arsalan Azam, Michael Banov, Kathleen A Barrett, Carl J Bonnett, David Feifel, Nicolas Grundmann, H Samuel Ko, Rupert Mcshane, Sandhya Prashad, Tatiana Santini, Lowan H Stewart, Patrick Sullivan, Stefany D Wolfsohn, Jill O Robinson, Amy L Mcguire, L Alison Mcinnes

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Background: Off-label use of intravenous ketamine (IVK) for depression is a widespread practice with limited regulation in the United States. There is an urgent need for current, evidence-informed treatment guidelines to facilitate patient safety, clinical decision-making, and care quality in real-world contexts.

Methods: The American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists and Practitioners (ASKP3) convened an interdisciplinary working committee tasked with creating guidelines for use of IVK for depression in outpatient settings. Guideline development followed a two-stage process: 1) a hybrid systematic and targeted evidence review and preliminary drafting by the committee, and 2) consensus refinement through a modified Delphi method …

Psychological Therapy In The Management Of Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review, Pragatheeswari R, Kavitha M, Sarumathi T, Niveditha B, Barkavi Panchatcharam, Pavithra D, Samu Fathima A I, Vigneshwaran J

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of psychological therapy in the management of temperomandibular disorders compared to other treatment modalities.

Methodology: Studies were selected according to PICO criteria, considering the RDC/TMD as a reference, improvement of pain and psychological parameters were the primary outcomes. Data search was mainly carried out through electronic search in several renowned databases: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Google scholar. The publications collected were published between 2010 and 2024. Randomized clinical trials that compared the efficacy of psychological treatment modality with other conservative treatment modalities were screened and evaluated. A total of 5 …

“All The World Is A (Debate) Stage”: College Debates As A Form Of Civic Engagement, Sara S. Whipple, Valentina Dimitrova-Grajzl, Kim Connolly

eJournal of Public Affairs

Political division and self-censorship in the United States have risen considerably in recent years. One means of countering such divides and siloed dialogue is through civil discourse that exposes people to diverse viewpoints. In an effort to bridge partisan divides, the Braver Angels Organization developed a debate format centered on these principles. Virginia Military Institute is one college campus that has adopted such debates as a form of civic engagement. In this paper we describe the development of the VMI College Debates and Discourse Program which has become a leading community of practice in civil discourse and engagement across college …

Overcoming Barriers To Housing And Community Engagement In The Bronx, Pamela Ransom Dr., Aboubkar Keita

eJournal of Public Affairs

Understanding the complex factors affecting engagement related to available community resources related to housing access and supports in urban areas where housing is scarce, is crucial because of the varied hazards contributing to current high levels of housing demand and stress impacting large numbers. This project explored perceptions, barriers, and opportunities to foster community engagement around housing supports, with a special focus on issues in the Bronx in New York City. By prioritizing attention to a holistic, collaborative approach to needs assessment and implementation of a pilot project for change using the Constructive Action educational methodology, the article presents a …

Persuasive Strategies To Increase Student Voting: A Communication-Based Framework For Civic Engagement At The Higher Education Institutions, Daniel Sherrick Apambila

eJournal of Public Affairs

The decline in civic engagement among college students poses a significant threat to democratic society, with youth electoral participation dropping from 50% in 2020 to 42% in 2024. This study presents a comprehensive communication-based framework designed to increase student voting participation at Illinois State University through theoretically grounded persuasive strategies. Drawing from established persuasion theories including Cialdini’s Principles of Persuasion, the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Elaboration Likelihood Model, and repetitive frequency effects, this research addresses structural, informational, and motivational barriers that prevent student electoral participation.

The proposed strategic framework encompasses three interconnected approaches: (1) behavioral positioning and target segmentation …

Creating Student-Generated Infographics To Foster Civic Engagement Research In A First-Year Seminar, Carlton A. Usher

eJournal of Public Affairs

Infographics, visual tools like charts or diagrams, simplify complex data into accessible formats. This study explores how student-generated infographics foster civic engagement in a first-year seminar. Survey data from first-year students (N=29) revealed 85% rated the project highly valuable, and 87% reported improved retention of societal issues. While research was the least favored aspect, students praised the project’s creativity and peer-sharing potential, with 40% emphasizing its value for visual learning. Most expressed confidence in sharing their work publicly. These findings support the use of infographics as a pedagogical tool for enhancing civic engagement among first-year students navigating academic transitions. Future …

Illuminating Perspectives Through Critical Visual Literacy, Wanju Huang, Filipa Machado Rodrigues, Lee Okan, Catalina Huilcapi-Collantes, Ellen Corrigan, Peter Klubek

Purdue University Press Books

Illuminating Perspectives Through Critical Visual Literacy exemplifies the initiatives put forth by the International Visual Literacy Association (IVLA), a diverse community of professionals dedicated to enhancing people’s understanding of how to interpret visual stimuli and engage with their visual surroundings. Featuring peer-reviewed essays that encourage ongoing dialogue among diverse groups, this book intends to spark new insights into everything from the arts and sciences to business and instructional technology. A key strength of IVLA is its variety of scholarly conferences and publications that encourage thought-provoking interaction between practitioners and theorists. Illuminating Perspectives Through Critical Visual Literacy showcases insightful works that …

The Non-Biblical Source Of Medieval Usury Prohibitions, Phil Gramm, Patrick Gray, Robert B. Ekelund

Journal of New Finance

Ecclesiastical and secular prohibitions of usury—often equated with any charging of interest on a loan—and their impact on commerce and economic progress in medieval Europe have long been recognized. In this paper we revisit one aspect of the debate, namely, the use of the ancient philosophical sources and the biblical texts by ancient and medieval writers. On the basis of a close reading of the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and a review of the secondary literature devoted to it, we argue that in the New Testament Jesus attaches no moral stigma to moneylending. It is therefore surprising that …

The Doctorate Of Social Work Program At Stephen F. Austin State University: Preparing Scholars To Meet Community Needs, Jose Carbajal, Stephanie Washington, Emmerentie Oliphant, Rigaud Joseph, Mohit Prodhan, Freddie L. Avant

Journal for Social Work Scholar-Practitioners

The Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree has experienced substantial growth in recent years, accompanied by renewed discussion regarding its role, rigor, and distinction from the PhD in social work. This conceptual paper examines the evolution of DSW education and highlights the DSW program at Stephen F. Austin State University as a model of scholar-practitioner preparation designed to address complex community needs, particularly in rural and underserved regions. The paper first reviews the historical development of DSW programs in the United States and the changing expectations surrounding practice doctorates. It then describes the rationale, structure, and capstone framework of the …

An Assessment Of Record-Keeping Practices And Their Role In Effective Administration In Primary And Secondary Schools In Chibombo District, Zambia., Kadeyo Mutale Kuyela Dr, Maureen Nzala Haambiya Mrs, Sututu Imasiku Ms, Glenda Ntalasha Mrs, Dalitso Mvula Mr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study assessed record-keeping practices and their role in effective administration in primary and secondary schools in Chibombo District, Zambia, guided by four objectives: identifying types of records, assessing their role in administrative efficiency, recognising challenges in record management, and exploring strategies for improvement. The study employed a qualitative case study approach, and the target population involved headteachers, senior teachers, and class teachers, and the sample size had 30 participants to ensure diverse insights. Data collection was done using an interview guide for effective responses, with thematic content analysis applied to the qualitative data to identify key themes and subthemes. …

2026 Persimmon Creek - Full Journal, Beth Keefauver, Wayne C. Robbins

Persimmon Creek

Dear Readers: Literary journals are a common component of colleges and universities spanning across many continents. As many students experience the drastic transition from childhood to independence, emotions can feel overwhelming, and life can quickly become flooded with anxiety. Writing is an outlet for many; a place humanity turns to as a form of secure therapy.

In William Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost, Berowne muses, “Never durst poet touch a pen to write until his ink were temper’d with Love’s sighs” (Act 4, Scene 3).

Without emotion, writing has no depth. The words on the page might seem eloquent, but the …

Meet Phoenix, Feng Jiang

Persimmon Creek

One act play

Cisgender Women With Autism And Their Experiences In Psychotherapy: A Phenomenological Study, Lillian Katherine Gray

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has underrepresented cisgender women with autism, and there are limited and inadequate resources and services. Cisgender women with autism experience unique challenges which connect to mental health challenges. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of cisgender women with level one autism; specifically, their experiences related to camouflaging, reasons for seeking psychotherapy, and the therapeutic relationship with their mental health care provider. Participant criteria included being a cisgender woman diagnosed with level one autism, who camouflage, and attended psychotherapy as an adult. Procedures included an online screening survey and semi-structured interviews. I used …

Decoding Officer Wellness: A Qualitative Descriptive Study Of The Decision-Making Processes In Law Enforcement Administrations And Government Partnerships, Erik Lee Peffer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe how law enforcement administrators in Orange County, California, in collaboration with the governments they serve, make decisions regarding the development, implementation, and evaluation of officer wellness programs. Lewin's Change Theory guided the study and framed the movement from unfreezing to changing to refreezing. Ten administrators participated in semi-structured interviews. Each administrator had at least five years of experience and held decision-making authority over officer wellness initiatives. The data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. Screening and demographic questionnaires, field notes, and member checking were also used to support …

A Phenomenological Study: Life During The Pandemic As An Adolescent In Hidalgo County, Texas, And Life Today, Melissa Guevara-Pérez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the lives of adolescents during a critical part of social, emotional, and identity development. Although previous research has noted the immediate effects of the pandemic on adolescents, limited research has examined the long-term impact on individuals who experienced the pandemic during adolescence and are now transitioning into adulthood. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Hispanic young adults who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic as adolescents and to understand how those experiences influenced their social and personal development as they transitioned into adulthood. Participants included 10 Hispanic young adults who …

Paying The Success Tax: A Phenomenological Study Of Black Women Navigating Workplace Microaggressions, Santisha Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the lived experiences of professional Black women as they relate to microaggressions experienced in professional spaces. Professional, for this study, refers to Black women in professional positions that require a degree, advanced degree, professional licensure, and those with current/past military service in the enlisted rank of E-7 and above or commissioned officers in the rank of O3 and above. The theory that guided this study was the phenomenological variant of ecological systems theory (PVEST), which emphasizes how people develop, considering the unique intersectionality of multiple social identities (Spencer et al., 1997). …

Building A Defense Economy: World War Ii, Federal Investment, And Georgia’S Economic Transformation, 1940-1965, William Heath Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines how World War II transformed Georgia’s economy from a predominately rural, agricultural economy into a more diversified economy increasingly tied to federal investment, military activity, industrial production, transportation, and commerce. It argues that wartime mobilization accelerated this transformation by directing federal funds into military installations, defense industries, infrastructure, and public services while drawing workers into expanding centers of employment. Using federal records, census data, military publications, corporate reports, newspapers, and oral histories, the study examines Fort Benning, Robins Field, Camp Toccoa, Bell Aircraft, the Brunswick Shipyards, Delta Air Lines, and The Coca-Cola Company. These cases show how …

A Qualitative Content Analysis Of The Personal Branding Practices Of Forbes 30 Under 30 Honorees, Hannah Naylor Regitz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study examines the personal branding practices of 10 honorees from the Forbes 2025 North American 30 Under 30 list. Through a thematic content analysis of Instagram, the honorees’ posts, captions, and the conversation climate of their comments from October 2025 were analyzed to determine patterns and similarities in their personal branding practices. Grounded in cultivation theory, this study explored how repeated exposure to curated content of these high-achieving young professionals shapes their personal brand perception. Additionally, it explored their interaction with commenters and the types of comments they engaged with. The analysis revealed seven themes that were present …

The Literacy Link: Connecting Parents Who Are Incarcerated With Their Young Children Through Reading Aloud, Mary Campbell Wood, Heidi Ungrodt, Pamela Wedig-Kirsch, Ronda Davis, Jacqueline Buck, Lindsay A Weymouth

Journal of Extension

Parental incarceration is consequential for children. Outreach strategies can maintain parent–child relationships during incarceration. The Literacy Link connects parents in jail and prison with their children through two strategies: a dialogic reading workshop and a recorded book reading program. Over 3 years, we implemented these strategies with parents in jails and prisons located in 12 counties. We surveyed parents and the caregivers with whom children live during their parents' incarceration. Parents reported improvements in attitudes and confidence related to reading aloud. Most parents and caregivers reported that these strategies provided a connection between parents and children during incarceration.

Provorov Fights Pride Night: Hockey, Homophobia, And Reactionary Athlete Activism, Matthew R. Meier

Communication & Theatre Faculty Publications

The 2022–2023 NHL season witnessed a spate of reactionary protests to team-sponsored Pride Nights by players set off by Philadelphia Flyers defensemen Ivan Provorov. In this essay, I consider the reactionary side of athlete activism through an analysis of these protests. Drawing on a critical rhetorical perspective, I critique the discourse of players, coaches, teams, and the league to outline the discursive features of athlete activism that advocates for the hegemonic status quo. I argue that these reactionary protests feature a refusal to engage in public discourse, a reliance on individual beliefs and personal choices, and tacit institutional approval from …

Pandemic-Driven Mediatization Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Jamaica, Gervon Garcia Marsh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica experienced a radical shift in its relationship with information and communication technology (ICT) due to the COVID-19 mandatory lockdowns imposed by the Government of Jamaica. Prior to the pandemic, ICT use was less pronounced in the life and ministry of the Church, suggesting limited susceptibility to mediatization. This shift accelerated the mediatization of the Church, leading to a heavy reliance on ICT that has become entrenched in its life and ministry post-pandemic. This qualitative exploratory case study examined how pandemic-driven mediatization shaped the collective agency of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica through ICT, …

How Veterans With Ptsd Experience Symptom Improvement From Social Support, Patti "Lori" Beisner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social support is a concept that is simple to grasp, yet subjective in nature and difficult to describe. Current research abounds reporting the positive impact of social support upon veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, few studies describe the phenomenon of social support for combat veterans, which they attribute to PTSD symptom improvement. The purpose of this study was to address this gap in research by exploring the lived experiences of veterans who have improved symptoms that they attribute to support they have received. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight combat veterans who self-reported PTSD symptom improvement due to …

A Multiple Case Study: Servant Leadership And Ethical Practices In Ethically Complex Organizational Environments, Gregory Antoine Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore how organizational leaders applied servant leadership to inform ethical practices within ethically complex organizational environments. Guided by a constructivist paradigm and Greenleaf’s servant leadership theory, the study examined leaders’ experiences navigating ethical challenges while balancing organizational demands with ethical responsibility. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with organizational participants and document analysis across three organizational cases. Methodological triangulation, member checking, reflexive journaling, and an audit trail enhanced the credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability of the findings. Analysis revealed six interconnected themes: servant leadership, ethical leadership, organizational culture, leader development, …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Gun Violence On Psychological Functioning And Perceived Psychosocial Supports In St. Louis’S Marginalized And Underserved Communities, Desirae Mecole Martinez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies gun violence as a leading public health concern in the United States. Marginalized and underserved communities are disproportionately impacted by poverty and crime, including firearm violence. Gun violence exposure has been linked to complex trauma, anxiety, substance use disorders, and depression. St. Louis, Missouri, has one of the highest rates of gun violence and mortality in the nation; however, research lacks an understanding of the psychological toll. Limited phenomenological research has examined how adults residing in marginalized and underserved communities experience gun violence exposure psychologically and perceive psychosocial supports. This study …

The Experiences Of African American Married Couples In Blended Families: A Descriptive Case Study, Tia Jones Medine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to describe the perceived influence of emotional regulation and marriage quality regarding custody conflicts for 13 married African American husbands and wives navigating co-parenting dynamics. The theory guiding this study was Family Systems Theory by Dr. Murray Bowen, which explains how external relational stress and internal emotional boundaries directly impact marital stability and family systems. Data collection methods comprised separate semi-structured interviews, three reflective journal prompts, and a focus group. Data analysis was conducted using Reflexive Thematic Analysis to identify primary codes and recurring themes. The findings revealed that participants experienced …

A Qualitative Case Study Of Law Enforcement Supervisors’ Perspectives On Agency Efforts To Identify And Prevent Extremism Among Active-Duty Officers, Enoch D. Irvine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The presence of political extremism among active-duty law enforcement represents a very real threat to the safety of citizens and the integrity of the policing profession. The purpose of this study was to have law enforcement supervisors describe what their agencies are doing to identify and prevent political extremism among active-duty officers in Utah. Law enforcement supervisors from three specifically chosen case-study agencies were invited to participate via a combination of semi-structured in-person interviews and an online survey. The findings of this study demonstrate the challenges law enforcement supervisors face in addressing extremism among officers while thoroughly highlighting the lack …

Burnout And Job Performance Among Working Mothers: The Moderating Roles Of Servant Leadership And Perceived Organizational Support, Claudia Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Working mothers frequently navigate competing work and family demands that increase vulnerability to burnout and may affect job performance. Despite these challenges, working mothers remain underrepresented in organizational research examining burnout and performance outcomes. Limited studies have explored how perceived organizational support (POS) and servant leadership influence the burnout-performance relationship across the individual dimensions of burnout. This quantitative correlational study examined the relationships between burnout and job performance among working mothers in the United States and tested whether POS and servant leadership moderated these relationships individually and jointly. The sample included 86 full-time working mothers recruited through convenience and snowball …